Back when partners Nachiket Shetye and Mangal Dalal hosted their flagship event, Restaurant Week India, under their banner Cellar Door Hospitality, they were simply inspired by the New York Restaurant Week. In its 13th edition, this biannual celebration has blossomed into an icebreaker between the formal and fine dining restaurants and those who dream of eating there.Quirk sent out our food experts to put together this food GPS so you can enjoy Restaurant Week in Mumbai this weekend* like a pro:

Ellipsis, Colaba
The chefs here have done such a brilliant job with this menu that you’re spoilt for choice. From the appetiser section, we suggest the Steamed Rice Crepes full of crunchy greens, or the Truffle Mushroom Dumplings for vegetarians and the Tangy Lamb Sliders for non-vegetarians. For mains, the play of textures in the Mushroom Cannelloni will delight your palate just as the Sea Food Pasta will comfort you. Tough to choose from the dessert section, but try the Ellipsis Special to get #foodhappy.Where: Ellipsis, Amarchand Mansion, 16 Madame Cama Road, Colaba, MumbaiContact: 022 66213333 | +91 9167367793Price:Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

The Sassy Spoon, Nariman Point
Much like its name, the restaurant has, in its appetiser section, Mango Pickled Grilled Prawns with Cucumber and Onion Slaw. Quite a sassy spoonful! Vegetarians could go for the RW signature** veg appetiser. It will ease you into the intense flavors of the Mapo Tofu with Soba Noodles, Coriander Lemongrass Broth and Crispy Okra that you absolutely must pick for your mains. Non-vegetarians could balance the zing of their appetiser with the more comforting Slow-Braised Srilankan Spiced Baby Lamb Shank with Parsley Pilaf and Saute Vegetables. Alternately, go in for the homely Baked Fish with Spinach, Mushrooms, Emmenthal Crust and Tomato Pilaf if you want to stick to seafood. For dessert, pick the Bread Pudding with a Bourbon Sauce without a doubt.Where: The Sassy Spoon, Ground Floor, Express Towers, Ramnath Goenka Marg, Nariman Point, MumbaiContact: 022 61054554Price:Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

Neel – Tote on the Turf, Mahalaxmi
When you do North Indian, do it regally. Vegetarians might like to begin with the Creamy Dill flavoured Paneer Sabzani Tikka or the Shabnam E Khaas – juicy tandoori stuffed mushrooms, even as carnivores chew the well-marinated Neel Ka Murgh Panja off its bone. For mains, the vegetarians could balance their rich starters with a Laccha Paratha and a Tangy Panchmel Ki Subzi, while the rest might want to try the Tender Lamb in Taar Korma with a garlic naan or bathe their fragrant Mattar Pulao with the saucy Jhinga Hyderabadi. You could round up the meal with some Rabdi Ice Cream, but we suggest the Parde Me Khubani, the Apricot Pudding with a majestic grace.Where: Neel, Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Gate 4 & 5, Keshva Rao, Mahalaxmi, MumbaiContact: 022 61577777 | +91 7560425004Price:Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

NRI, BKC
The weather in Mumbai is perfect for their Methi Kele ke Pakode with a spicy carrot chutney and a chundo yogurt. Don’t worry about it being bite-sized – there’s always the hearty Peranakan Vegetable Kari with rice or roti canai to make up for it. Non-vegetarians might want to keep up the fried stuff in rains tradition and try the Indi Brit Fish And Chips with kasundi mayo and gorkha tomato chutney or the undauntedly Spicy Kenyan Mogo Fries. If the fire of Kenya agrees with you, go for the Mombasa Jeera Chicken Curry from Kenya. If not, stick with a Srilankan Potli Chicken with a little tartness from the shrimp paste.Where: NRI, 2 North Avenue, Maker Maxity, Bandra Kurla Complex, MumbaiContact: 022 30005040 | 022 30005041Price:Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

Hakkasan, Bandra
You can never go wrong with dimsums. And a Dimsum Trilogy? That’s even better. The Edamame dumplings promise to have vegetarians swooning while the Salt and Pepper Squid is the perfect example of simplicity as sophistication. Non-vegetarians could also go in for the HakkaDimsum Trilogy. Among the mains, vegetarians could pull off a bucketlist stunt by trying the Stir Fry Vegetarian Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce. It’s cheating but all is fair in love, war and food. Meanwhile, our people pigged out on the Braised Pork Belly in Truffle Sauce with Mantou teamed with the Edamame Egg Fried Rice and came back swearing that it was epic! We suggest for you fill up on all the lovely food here and go light on desserts with their selection of sorbets.Where: Hakkasan, 206, Krystal, Waterfield Road, Linking Road, Bandra WestContact: 022 33956003Price:Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

Olive Bar & Kitchen, Khar West
The combination of creamy and spicy with a hint of sweet is aristocratic, and should definitely be savoured in the Cauliflower and Date appetiser. If your taste buds are missing pungency, you can appease them with the Mediterranean Crock Pot for your mains. Hardcore meat lovers can tear through the BBQ Chicken and Kimchi and also polish off the Lime and Salmon Fishcakes from the plates of their more polished friends. Both are equally irresistible. And we’d advise you to balance those strong flavours with a Linguine Marinara that tastes like a romantic close dance. When there’s a Classic Tiramisu on the menu, you cannot look at any other dessert; except if that dessert is Warm Toffee Pudding. It’s going to be so tough call. Happy choosing!Where: Olive Bar & Kitchen, 14, Below Pali Hill Tourist Hotel, Union Park, Khar, MumbaiContact: 022 33956121Price:Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

Dakshin Coastal, Sahar Andheri (E)
When you’re in Dakshin Coastal, it’s sacrilege not to begin your meal with Rasam. You can follow the steaming, red beauty with a milder raw banana dumpling, Vazhakai Shunti. Then tease your taste buds again with a tangy Bendakaya Pulusu for mains only to soothe them yet again with Patchakari Stew. If you like your animals, you’re allowed to skip the Rasam and go in for a tender Meen Porichathu and a plump Kozhi Roast. In the South, there’s no such thing as too much seafood – so we’d suggest the Chapala Pulusu, which lives upto Andhra’s reputation of chilli haven. And the aromatic lamb curry, Attukal Paya, will whet your appetite. We were perfectly content washing down our meals with the sublime Elaneer Payasam, but feel free to get more adventurous and try out the Kadal Patchee, a pistachio and rosewater-flavoured homemade ice cream.Where: Dakshin Coastal, ITC Maratha, Sahar Road, Andheri East, Chakala, MumbaiContact: 022 33716055Price:Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

Ruka,Juhu
Japanese food is not everybody’s cup of tea. You could be loving the crunch and flavour of the Lotus Root Chili Honey and have an ‘mmmmmm’ moment. Or you could play it safe with the Vegetable Lumpia (Indonesian spring rolls) of somewhat expected flavours. Our advice? Be a little daring. Go on and be safe later with Steamed Vegetables in Black Pepper Sauce for the mains. It’s a calculated risk. Meat lovers must begin with Rock Shrimp Tempura. We have come to love it. Meanwhile, the Ayam Garo Rica, chicken in lemon and basil would be great for the mains. Both the mains would go very well with Cho Udon Mian, because to come to a Japanese restaurant and not have Udon noodles is unacceptable. Whatever you do, do NOT chicken out and go the Khao Suey way. For dessert go for the Maki Crepe Roll.Or if you want to be more authentic, try out the Green Tea and Banana Cake.Where: Ruka, 462 A.B. Nair Road, Opposite Novotel, Juhu, MumbaiContact: 022 33956142Price: Lunch – INR 1100/- per head | Dinner – INR 1300/- per head (Government Taxes & Service charges Extra)

*We suggest booking online beforehand to make a reservation at any of these places so that you don’t miss out on that meal you’ve waited for. Restaurant Week India is only till the 25th of September, so hurry!